Method of packaging materials



Feb. 8, 1966 F. A. DAvls, JR., ETAL 3,233,539

METHOD OF PACKAGING MATERIALS Original Filed Sept. 19, 1961 4Sheets-Sheet l `llwww mf ww@ n mf MW dw, Mm f Feb 8, 1966 F. A. DAvls,JR., ETAL 3,233,639

METHOD OF PACKAGING MATERIALS Feb. 8, 1966 F. A. DAv1s,JR.. ETAL.3,233,639

METHOD OF PACKAGING MATERIALS Original Filed Sept. 19, 1961 4Sheets-Sheet 5 Feb. 8, 1966 F. A. DAvls, JR.. ETAL 3,233,639

METHOD OF PACKAGING MATERIALS Original Filed Sept. 19, 1961 4Sheets-Sheet 4 TIG. 13 1716?; J4;

United States Fatent O 3,233,639 METHOD F PACKAGING MATERIALS Francis A.Davis, Jr., Lansdale, and llloseph F.

Flannery, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to Paramount PackagingCorporation, Chalfont, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Originalapplication Sept. 19, 1961, Ser. No. 139,234, now Patent No. 3,183,750,dated May 18, 1965. Dlvlded and this application Jan. 9, 1963, Ser. No.250,279 Claims. (Cl. 141-10) This application is a division of ourcopending application Serial No. 139,234 filed on September 19, 1961,now U.S. Patent No. 3,183,750 and entitled Plastic Bag Cutter.

This invention relates to a method of packaging materials in plasticcontainers and the like.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel methodfor incisingsheet materials, such as plastic bags and the like, andtaking advantage of the incision during a lilling operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method of packagingarticles which includes lling a bag with sutlicient force so that thebag is torn from its wicket support.

It is another object of this invention to provide a novel and efficientmethod for packaging materials in plastic bags and similar containers.

Other objects and attendant advantages of the invention will appearhereinafter and in the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a material incising apparatus asprovided in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 2 is a partial View in perspective, partly broken away, of a partof the apparatus shown in FIG- URE l.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view, partly in perspectwe and partly insection, of a part of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of plastic sheet material and an incisionformed therein.

FIGURE 5 is a view in perspective of a modified form of materialincising apparatus as provided in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 6 is a view in front elevation of another modiied form ofincising apparatus as provided in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 7 is a View, partly in elevation and partly in section, of a partof the apparatus shown in FIG- URE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a view in perspective of an incisor blade and die asprovided in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 9 is a view partly in elevation and partly in sectionillustrating a specific arrangement of a part of the apparatus shown inFIGURE 6.

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of plastic material showing a modified incisionas provided in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 1l is a partial view in top plan showing still anothermodification of incision as provided in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 12 is a partial view in top plan of plastic bag material showingstill another modification of incision as provided in accordance withthis invention.

FIGURE 13 is a view in perspective of a modied incisor blade and die asprovided in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 14 is a view in perspective of another modified form of incisorblade and die as provided in accordance with this invention.

FIGURE 15 is a partial view in perspective of one artached to theplunger 18 rangement of stacked plastic bags as provided in accordancewith tihs invention.

FIGURE 16 is a partial view in perspective of one stage of the method ofpackaging materials as provided in accordance with this invention.

The following description is directed to a specific form of theapparatus illustrated in the drawings with which the present inventionmay be practiced and is not intended to be addressed to the scope of theinvention itself which may be practiced with a wide variety of forms andarrangements.

Adverting herewith to the specific form of the invention illustrated inthe drawings, a material incising apparatus as shown in FIGURE 1, forexample, comprises a frame 10 to which is affixed a housing 11 for asolenoid 12 to which there leads an electric current carrying wire 13for the energization thereof from a source of power not shown. Forwardof the frame 10 are formed guide blocks 14 and 15 between which there isprovided a U- shaped casting 16 formed integrally with the frame 10which provides a space 17 between the guide blocks 14 and 15 for thepassage of material therebetween.` Atof the solenoid 12 is a shaft 19arranged for reciprocal movement upward and downward through a circularopening 20 in the guide block 14 provided for that purpose. Secured tothe front end 23 of the guide block 14 by means of -screws 24 is a wirestripper or hold-down 25 which is arranged to form a loop 26 which liesflat against the top surface 27 of the guide block 15 and substantiallysurrounds a circular opening 28 which extends completely through theguide block 15 to the bottom side 29 thereof.

As may be seen in FIGURE 3, a sleeve 33 is immovably set into thecylindrical opening 20 extending through the guide block 14, whichsleeve carries the reciprocating shaft 19. As may also be seen in FIGURE3, the cylindrical opening 28 provided in the guide block 15 is threadedfor engagement with a sleeve 34, which sleeve is threaded on both theinside and outside cylindrical walls thereof and is in turn adapted toengage a substantially cylindrical die 35 having corresponding threadsformed on the outer wall thereof and an adjusting lock nut 36 mounted tothe bottom end thereof.

As may be seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, an incisor blade 39 having a shank 40and an inverted pyramidal head 41 is allixed to the shaft 19 andaccordingly arranged for reciprocal movement therewith. The invertedpyramidal head 41 is formed generally in the.` shape of a four-sidedpyramid and has cutting edges 42 at the junctures of the sides 43thereof.

The die 35 has formed therein an inverted pyramidal space 44 having sidewalls 45 with the vertex 46 of the pyramidal space positioned centrallyof the die 35 and the base of the pyramidal space opening into the topsurface 47 thereof. It will be clear that the volumetric dimension ofthe inverted pyramidal space 414 in the die 35 is of approximately thesame dimension as the inverted pyramidal head 41 of the incisor blade39.

As may be seen in FIGURE 2, a plastic bag 50` to be incised ispositioned in the space 17 between the guide blocks 14 and 15 and isheld at against the top surface 27 of the guide block 15 and the topsurface 47 of the die 35 by the loop 26 of the stripper 25. The plasticbag 50 comprises a body portion 51 and a flap portion 52, which latterportion is held for incision between the guide blocks 14 and 15 by thestripper 25..

In FIGURE 4 is illustrated a portion of an incised plastic bag which maybe a part of a long continuous strip of material out of which may befashioned a plurality of plastic bags. In one ap 52, perpendicular slitsor cuts have been incised to form an incision 53 in the form of a cross,the purpose of which will become more fully apparent hereinafter.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a modification of the apparatus adapted to incise aplurality of sheets of plastic material and 4comprises a frame Ma towhich are aiiixed mountings 11a arranged for the support of a pair ofpneumatic cylinders 12a having piston rods (not shown) Connected tosupport plates 18a and shafts 19a. Formed integrally with the frame 15inare a pair of upper guide blocks 14a and lower guide blocks 15a havingtherebetween generally U-shaped spaces 17a for the reception of aplurality of sheets of plastic bag material 50a having flap portions 52aand body portions 51a.

Mounted to the support plates 18a are rods 25a which pass through guideblocks 14a and have mounted thereto at thel lower extremities thereofhold-down plates 26a, which plates function in a manner to be explainedmore fully hereinafter. As may be clearly seen in FIGURE 5, springs 54are mounted on the rods 25a between support plates 18a and top thesurfaces of guide blocks 14a and springs 55 are mounted to the rods 25abetween the bottom surfaces of guide blocks 14a and the hold-down plates26a. As may also be seen in FIGURE 5, springs 56 are also mounted on thereciprocating shafts 19a between the support plates 18a and the topsurface of guide blocks 14a.

Aiiixed to the distal end of shafts 19a are incisor blades 39a havinginverted pyramidal heads 41a and cutting edges 42a. Set in the lowerguide blocks 15a are adjustable dies in all respects similar to thoseshown in FIGURE 3 of the previously described modilication of theinvention and adapted to receive the pyramidal cutting heads 41a whichare likewise in all respects similar to the cutting head of thepreviously described modilication of the invention. As may be seen inFIGURE 5, the hold-down plates 26a are provided centrally thereof with asquare opening 57 of dimension to permit the cutting head 41a and shaft19a to pass therethrough.

In FIGURE 6, there is illustrated still another modiiication of theapparatus adapted to incise a plurality of sheets of plastic material inwhich there are mounted to a rigid frame b a pair of hydraulic cylinders12b having hydraulic Huid carrying lines 58 and 59 leading thereintorespectively at the tops and bottoms 11b thereof. To the piston rods ofthe cylinders 12b are secured support plates ltb in which are set thetop ends of rods 25h, which rods pass through guide blocks 14b and aremounted at their bottom ends in hold-down plates 2Gb. Springs 54b aremounted on rods 25b between support plates 1817 and guide blocks Mb andsprings 55h are mounted on rods 2511 between guide blocks 141) andhold-down plates 26h.

Shafts 19h, to which are mounted springs 5612 extending to the centralportions of support plates 18h, extends through the guide blocks li4bcentraliy thereof and to the distal end thereof there is mounted anincisor blade 3919 having a shank 40h and a head 41h with cutting edges42h. As may be seen in FIGURE 7, the head 41h has the shape of aninverted four-sided pyramid.

Below the 4hold-down plates 2Gb are mounted guide blocks b which alsoserve as die holders for dies 35h which may be adjusted therein by meansof lock nuts 36h. Between the hold-down plates 2Gb and the guide blocks15b are positioned a plurality of plastic bags Stb or similar sheetmaterial for incision in a manner to be described hereinafter. As may beseen in FIGURES 7 and 8, dies 35b are provided with spaces 44h havingthe shape of an inverted pyramid and of dimension to receive theincising head 2.911. FIGURE 9 illustrates one position of the incisinghead 39b relative to the plastic bags 5'0b and the die 35b during theincising operation.

Cylinders 12b are mounted for translational motion across the frame 10band extending between the aforesaid cylinders is an adjusting bolt 6i)which passes through bolt retaining members 61 adjacent to which arepositioned lock nuts 62, all for a purpose to be explained more fullyhereinafter.

FIGURE 10 illustrates a plastic bag 50b having a body portion S1!) and atiap portion 5211 containing incisions 53h which are cut into the flapportion 52b by rotating the incising heads 3% and dies 35h through anangie of 45.

In FIGURE ll, there is illustrated a plastic bag 50c having a bodyportion 51C and a ap portion 52e in which are formed incisions 53C whichmay be cut into the flap portion 52C by a modified incising head and dieillustrated in FIGURE 13.

In FIGURE 13 is shown a T-shaped cutting head 39C having an arm and legat the bottom of which are formed cutting edges 42C and a die 35C havinga -correspondingly T-shaped space 44C formed therein of dimension toreceive the incising head 39C.

FIGURE 12 illustrates a plastic bag 56d having a body portion 51d and aflap portion 52d in which are formed incisions 53d produced by amodified incising head and die shown in FIGURE 14.

In FIGURE 14, there is shown a generally wedgeshaped incising head 39ahaving a cutting edge 42d and a die 35d having a wedge-shaped space 44aformed therein of dimension to receive the incising head 39a.

FIGURE l5 illustrates one arrangement of stacking a plurality of bagsSM1 which are secured to a wicket 64 having posts 65 and 66 which extendthrough the incision 53b in aps 52b. FIGURE 16 is an enlarged view ofthe post 65 of the wicket 64 shown in FIGURE 15 and illustrates onestage in the process of packaging materials in accordance with thisinvention. In FIGURE 16, the top bag of the stack of plastic bags 5@having an open mouth 67 is shown torn from the post 65 as the bag movesforward in the filling process.

Although in FIGURES l, 2 and 3 only one solenoid and incising head havebeen shown attached to frame 10, ordinarily in the practice of thisinvention two incising heads operated by a pair of solenoids are used.In forming the incision 53 in the flap 52 shown in FIGURE 4, a plasticbag is inserted into the space 17 beneath the stripper loop 26 so thatiiap 52 lies fiat against the top 27 of the guide block 15 and againstthe top 47 of the die 3S. Energization of the solenoid causes theplunger thereof to fall, driving the shaft 19 downward and driving thecutting head 41 through the plastic iiap 52 into the space 44 in the die3S. In passing through the plastic iap 52, the cutting edges 42 of theincising head 41 cut the incision 53 into the liap 52 without punchingany of the plastic material out of the iap. As a consequence, only neatslits or cuts are formed in the liap 52. After the incision 53 has beenmade in the iiap 52 of the plastic bag Si), the solenoid isde-energize-d by controls not shown and the plunger thereof rises,thereby lifting the shaft I9 and the incising head 4I so that theincising head 41 agaln rises above the flap 52. Thereafter, the plasticbag Si? is removed and the operation may be repeated as desired. It willbe understood that the plastic bag 50 may be part of a continuous stripof plastic bag material `which may be continuously run through theincising apparatus by appropriate drive means.

In the practice of this invention in accordance with the modificationsillustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6, a stack of plastic bags are neatlyincised in the same manner in which a single bag was described asincised in the firstmentioned modilication of the invention.

In the modification illustrated in FIGURE 5, the iiaps 52a of theplastic bag Stia enter the spaces 17a and, when in the desired position,are maintained flat against the guide blocks or die `holders 15a bymeans of the holddown plates 26a which are pressed downwardly by theforce of the pneumatic `cylinders 12:1. The pneumatic cylinderssimilarly drive downward the shafts 19a so that the incising heads 41apass through the holes 57 in the hold-down plates 26a and penetrate thestack of plastic bags 56a. In penetrating the plastic bags, the cuttingedges 42a of the incising heads 41a cut neat incisions in the plasticbag in the same manner as described in the previous modification of theinvention.

In the modification shown in FIGURE 6, the hydraulic cylinders forcedownwardly the support plates 1817 and consequently the hold-down plates26h against the stack of plastic bags Sflb while the incising head 41hpasses through the hold-down plates 2Gb and plastic bags Silb to enterthe space 44h in the die 35b.

AIt will be apparent that by means of the threaded die 35]), the die canbe adjusted in the guide block or die holder b to the precise positiondesired and locked in the aforesaid position by means of the lock nut361).

In the modiiication illustrated in FIGURE 6, the hydraulic cylinders 12bare mounted so that the distance between the 4cylinders may be adjustedby moving one or the other of the cylinders translationally toward oraway from the other. The adjustment may be accomplished by loosening thelock nuts 62 and moving cylinder 12b so that the bolt 60 slides throughthe bolt retaining member 61 until the incising heads 41h are at thecorrect distance apart, after which the lock nuts 62 are again tightenedagainst the bolt retaining member 61.

In the practice of this invention, plastic bags 50 incised in the mannerafore-described are mounted on the wicket 64 and arranged for filling asillustrated in FIGURE 16. The mouth 67 of the top bag is opened by astream of air or other means and the bag lled at the same time withmaterial which it is desired to package therein. In the iilling process,the bag is pulled away from the posts 65 and 66 along one of the arms ofthe incision 53 so that the iiap 52 of the bag neatly tears away fromthe aforesaid post and the bag moves away, thereby exposing the nexttopmost bag of the stack for filling in like manner. After the bags havebeen filled as afore-described, the torn flap is removed in the processof heat-sealing the mouth 67 of the bag.

It will be apparent that an important advantage of the provision of anincision in accordance with this invention resides in the manner inwhich incisions may be made in sheet material so that no part of thematerial is punched out or removed in the incising operation, therebyeliminating contamination of bags, sacks or similar containers formedtherefrom by punched out pieces of sheet material. It will beappreciated that punched holes in plastic bags and similar containersresult in the collection of a large number of punched out pieces ofmaterial which tend to become intermingled with the ultimate contents ofthe bag or container as a contaminate. However, hy the incising `methodof this invention, this undesirable condition is entirely eliminated.

Another important feature of the invention lies in providing an incisionwhich facilitates the easy removal of the bag from its wicket posts.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and,accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, ratherthan to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of theinvention.

It is claimed:

1. In a method of packaging materials in a plastic container having abody portion and a ap portion adjacent the mouth thereof, the stepswhich comprise forming a neat incision in said flap portion, passing apost through said incision to secure said container in position, andpassing material into said container through the mouth thereof withsumcient force to tear said flap from said post.

2. The method defined in .claim 1 wherein said flap is torn along atleast one line of said incision..

3. In a method of packaging materials in a plurality of plasticcontainers of substantially equal dimension, each of said containershaving a body portion and a flap portion adjacent the mouth thereof, thesteps which comprise stacking said containers evenly so that the apportions are superimposed over one another and the body por-tions aresuperimposed over one another, simultaneously forming at least twoincisions spaced apart from each other in the flaps of said stackedcontainers, placing said stacked containers on the posts of a wicket bypassing said posts through said spaced incisions, and successivelypassing material into the topmost container of said stack through themouth thereof with suiicient force to tear said container from the postsof said wicket.

4. In a method of packaging materials in a iplastic container having abody portion and a flap portion adjacent the mouth thereof, the stepswhich comprise simultaneously forming a neat incision in the flapportion of a plurality of superimposed containers, passing a postthrough said incision to secure said containers in a filling position,and sequentially passing material into each container through the mouththereof `with sufcient force to tear said ap from said post.

5. In a method in accordance with claim 4 wherein the step of formingthe in-cision is accomplished. in a manner so as to provide twointersecting lines, and said flap being torn in a direction extendingalong one of said lines toward the adjacent free edge of the Hap.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 689,394 12/1901Gregory 83--660 1,794,517 3/1931 Hellman 53-385 X 2,008,896 7/1935 Brown53-385 X LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

1. IN A METHOD OF PACKAGING MATERIALS IN A PLASTIC CONTAINER HAVING ABODY PORTION AND A FLAP PORTION ADJACENT THE MOUTH THEREOF, THE STEPSWHICH COMPRISE FORMING A NEAT INCISION IN SAID FLAP PORTION, PASSING APOST THROUGH SAID INCISION TO SECURE SAID CONTAINER IN POSITION, ANDPASSING MATERIAL INTO SAID CONTAINER THROUGH THE MOUTH THEREOF WITHSUFFICIENT FORCE TO TEAR SAID FLAP FROM SAID POST.